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Bay Area Arts and Entertainment BlogFri, 31 Jul 2015 15:11:55 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3SXSW Film: LCD Soundsystem documentary is stunninghttp://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/03/21/sxsw-film-lcd-soundsystem-documentary-is-stunning/
http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2012/03/21/sxsw-film-lcd-soundsystem-documentary-is-stunning/#commentsWed, 21 Mar 2012 07:25:51 +0000http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/?p=24020By Jim Harrington Oakland Tribune “Shut Up and Play the Hits” – There’s always one “wow” music doc at the SXSW film festival. “Shut Up and Play the Hits” is it for 2012. The film, which documents the final days… Continue Reading →

“Shut Up and Play the Hits” – There’s always one “wow” music doc at the SXSW film festival.

“Shut Up and Play the Hits” is it for 2012. The film, which documents the final days of acclaimed electronic-rock act LCD Soundsystem, is the rare music doc that seemingly offers as much for the casual listener as it does the big fan.

No matter how you walk into the film, however, I fully expect you to walk out a LCD devotee. The concert footage is astonishing, capturing the power of live music in ways that are clearly reminiscent of Jonathan Demme (“Stop Making Sense”), but the behind-the-scenes interviews with Mr. Soundsystem (aka James Murphy) are just as fascinating. This film, directed by Dylan Southern and Will Lovelace, is a fitting memorial for such a significant act.

Saturday was the strongest bill of this overall awesome festival. Top-to-bottom, start-to-finish, the offerings were rock solid.

One had to make some tough choices on this day. Do you watch LCD Soundsystem or Gogol Bordello? Broken Bells or Silversun Pickups? MIA or Muse? Like I said, some tough choices.

I went with Silversun Pickups, who turned in their regular great performance. They are about as reliable a live act as you’ll find. Isn’t about time, however, that they record a new album? It feels like I’ve seen them a dozen times on this record.

I wanted to see the xx, which was so great at the Fox in Oakland last month. But, again, their type of music (low, slow, hypnotic) didn’t work well in the mega-setting. And certainly not while the sun was still up. Gogol Bordello, the gypsy punk equivalent of the Pogues, was vastly more satisfying. Deadmau5 sounded great – and who doesn’t like to see a giant mouse spin records.

Definitely check out Deadmau5 (as well as Miike Snow and LCD Soundsystem) when they perform Oct. 16 at the great Treasure Island Music Festival.

Muse was Muse. And the experience was quite like what was found with Phish on the prior day. Compared to the headliner (Muse and/or Phish), everyone else on the bill seemed somewhat ordinary.